Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-31
4 Tiny Four.Pnge Paper i'm Paris
UiGn n Phenomenal Circulation.

The Petit Journal, of Paris, little
four-page newspaper. each OF whose
pages measures only fifteen and one
half by twenty and one half inches, has
at present an average circulation OF 9oO,-
900 copies a day. 1t was founded IN
1868. la the beginning IT was composed
entirely by means of intelligently-
handled scissors ; it was n journal OF ex-
tracts from other journals. Atthis stage
It's success was not remarkable,
IN spite OF the immense publicity
given to it both in Paris and in the
provinces The Journal had no par
ticular character, and nobody guessed
where the secret OF success lay. Finally
Leo Lespes was engaged and wrote a
daily leader essay, which he signed
"Timothee Trimm." This essay proved
a decided and constant success. Next n
feuilleton novel by Guerovlt, the "Bour-
Reoise dAnvcas," seemed to catch the
public. IN 1864 a new novel by Ponson
du Te1rail was published in daily slices,
under the title of the Resurrection Of
Rocambole" In few weeks the circu-
lation of the Petit do TH0t rose from
$1,000 to 1900 copies.
Up to 1869, the year OF the Tropmonn
affair, the normal circulation of the
PctH Journal was about 100000. In
1868 the newspaper took possession of II
house of its own, 81 Rue Lafayette, and
VI. Marinoni built for it some presses
which then seemed perfection, but have
since that time been far surpassed. by
this time the Petit Journal had become
quite a smart paper, not only pub
fishing the most sensational feull-
letons, but also making all possible capl-
tal ont of the news of the day, for the
primitive SCISSORS had long ago been re-
placed 10y staff OF writer's and news
gatherers. Leo Lespes during six years
wrote an article every day for the Pettt
JoUrnat over the signature of Ilmothee
Trimm. Vanity pulled up his soul; he
thought he was indispensable, and de-
manded an annuity OF S2O,OOO for the
rest of his life, otherwise he
would carry his pen and his pseu-
donvm TO another paper NJ. Millaud
refused this eXorbitant demand Lespes
left the Petit JOtundi, and ON March II,
1859, the leader essay was signed Thomas
Grimm, which signature has been used
ever since. The majority Of these lead
ers during the past eighteen years have
been written by the chief editor of the
paper. NJ. If. Escofiier bnt hundreds OF
socialists have also written over the
common signature.
The Tropmann murder occupied the
public for many weeks. The Potii
J0uyR0J gratied the public curiosity 10y
lis reports OF this case 50 successfully
that It's circulation rose to i50, 900 copies,
and the day after the execution Of Trop-
mann it printed $4,000 copies. At this
figure the printers had to cease work
from pure exhaustion the hands OF the
feeders were dripping with wounds, fol
mt that date the endless reel of paper
had not vet been thought OF in the press
room of the Petit journal.
Tie Franco-German war caused 9
great modification in the PCtH Journal
The literary and news journal became
also a political organ, speaking to pa
tiots and citizens. During the Com
mune and the civil war, besides the
Paris edition, special editions were
published at Lyons, Bordeaux and Caen
but when the war was at an enc
the days of prosperity seemed t.
have passed, and the Petit JoUypo
was on the point OF Disappearing alto
gether when justice interviewed and The
paper was saved chiefly by NJ. Emile dt
Giiardin, who with other capitalists
formed Il SOcicfe GErpiOtat1On. A
this time the circulation was $4,000
With good management prosperity re
turned, and year by year the circulation
increased to 300, 600. AGO, 900, and il
1880 SOC, 900. while during tue past sever
years the half million has nearly az
proached the round million.